Well-digging apparatus.



R. BREWSTER & J. GOTTERTZ.

WELL DIGGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 1, 1913.

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

( own/Mews FIG E 37 7HE NORRIS PETERS c0. PHOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON, n. 1:.

ROBERT nniswsrnn AND osnrn eorrnnrz, or sHnLnoN, IOWA.

WELL-DIGGING APPARATUS.

To all "whom it may concern Be it known that we, ROBERT BREWSTER and JOSEPH Gorrnnrz, citizens of the United.

States, residing at Sheldon, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVelLDigging Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to apparatus used in digging wells; and it consists of an aut0- matic cutter or rimmer for enlarging the well hole and of means for lowering the well curb as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a side View, partially in section, showing a portion of a well provided with digging apparatus according to this invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of the bucket, drawn to a larger scale, and showing the rimming cutter raised. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the bucket, showing the rimming cutter lowered, and showing the bucket rod in section. Fig. t is a front view of the lowering devices and the ring for a cement curb. Fig. 5 is a plan view of a part of the curb ring. Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of a wooden curb provided with sheaves similar to the curb ring.

The well 2 is a cylindrical hole bored in the earth by means of a bucket 3. The bucket 3 is of any approved construction, and it consists of a cylindrical vessel having a bottom 4 provided with a cutting edge or lip 5 which projects downwardly from one side of a slot in the bottom 4;, and which cuts into the earth like an anger when the bucket is revolved in the direction of the curved arrow on the drawings. The earth thus cut rises through the slot into the bucket, and the bucket is raised periodically and is emptied of its contents.

In carrying out this invention a crossbar 6 is secured at the top of the bucket, and is provided with a socket 7 at its middlepart having a rectangular guide hole.

The lower end portion 8 of the bucket.

rod 9 is square, or rectangular, in cross-section, and it engages with the hole in the socket and affords a means for revolving the bucket. The rod 9 is slidable vertically in the socket, and 10 are stops on the rod for limiting its vertical sliding movements.

A cutter or rimmer 12, for enlarging the Specification of Letters l atent. I

Patented Oct. 13, 1914.

Applicationfiled December 1, 1913. Serial No. 8%,946.

diameter of'the well hole 2, is pivoted by a pin 14 to the crossbar 6.- This cutter is formed of a plate which projects radially beyond the periphery of the bucket, and which has a downwardly curved cutting edge 15 at its front part beyond the bucket. The projecting end portion of the cutter is beveled, and is'provided with an upwardly projecting guide flange 16 which is arranged substantially at a tangentto the periphery of the bucket, and which guides the earth cut by the cutting edge 16 into the bucket as the bucket is revolved.

A curved guard 18 is secured to an up wardly projecting flange 19 on one side of the crossbar, for positioning the cutter and for relieving its pivot of excessive strain. The cutter ,bears against this guard as the bucket is revolved. A connecting-rod 20 is pivoted to an eye'21 on the cutter at one end,

and to an eye 22 onthe rod '9 at the other end. The middle part of this connecting rod is bent so that it forms a stop 23 for the cutter, when the cutter is raised as shown in Fig. 2. The cutter drops by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 1 when the bucket is lowered into contact with the earth and the bucket rod slides downwardly in its socket. I The devices for lifting and lowering and for revolving the bucket with its rimmer or cutter are not shown and described as they are of any approved construction.

The curb or well-casing 24 is formed of cement or other convenient material, and when formed of cement a ring 34 is preferably provided for lowering it. This ring 34: is an annular plate on which the curb rests, and it has an outer flange 25 and a short inner flange 26 for engaging with the curb. The opening inthe annular plate is large enough to permit the bucket to slide vertically through it and through the curb or casing 24. Brackets 26 are secured to the outer flange 25, and 27 are guide sheaves journaled in the brackets and arranged on opposite sides of the center of the bucket.

Two lifting cables 28 are provided, and are detachably fastened at one end to any stationary object, such as the frame 29 which supports the winding mechanism. The other end portions of the cables 28 are wound upon a barrel 30 which is journaled in the frame 29, and the cables are passed under the sheaves 27. The barrel is provided with any suitable driving mechanism 31 for revolving it, and the barrel may be revolved by hand or by any convenient motor. The bucket is raised and lowered through the curb as often as is necessary, and when the bucket is lowered below the curb, the rimmer 12 is usedto enlarge the well hole below the curb, and permit the curb to be lowered to Within a very short distance of the rimmer. Then the well is bored to its full depth, the bucket is withdrawn, and the ends of the cables are unfastened from the frame so that they can be wound up, leaving the curb ring at the bot tom of the well.

W hen a wooden curb is used brackets 36 having guide sheaves 37 may be secured to it as shown in Fig. 6, as it is not necessary to use a ring for supporting a wooden curb, 4st. The curbs are made in superposed sections which are added one after another as required.

What we claim is:

1. The combination, with a bucket provided with a cutter for digging a well hole, of a crossbar secured to the bucket, a cutter, for enlarging the well hole, pivoted to the crossbar and projecting radially beyond the periphery of the bucket, an operating rod slidable longitudinally in the crossbar and adapted to revolve the bucket, and a connecting-rod pivotally connecting the enlarging cutter with the bucket rod and control ling the positions of the enlarging cutter automatically.

2. The combination, with a bucket provided with a cutter for digging a well hole, of a crossbar secured to the bucket and provided with an upwardly projecting flange and a guard at one side edge, a cutter for enlarging the well hole, pivoted to the crossbar and projecting radially beyond the periphery of the bucket and engaging with the said flange and guard, an operating rod slidable longitudinally in the crossbar and adapted to revolve the bucket, and a connecting-rod pivotally connecting the enlarging cutter with the bucket rod and controlling the positions of the enlarging cutter automat-ically.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

ROBT. BREWSTER. JOSEPH" GOTTERTZ.

lVitnesses:

A. HAZE. I F. D. MEREDITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G. 

